F-35B STOVL Transition, Hover, and Return To Forward Flight - Farnborough Airshow

An edited down version of Tuesday's display at Farnborough. ( • F-35B First Flight - F... ) and zoomed in to highlight the STOVL transition, hover and transition to forward flight. The top and lower doors and engine swivel are shown along with the clean up at the end.
The F-35B STOVL operation is made possible through the Rolls-Royce patented shaft-driven LiftFan® propulsion system and an engine that can swivel 90 degrees when in short takeoff/vertical landing mode. Because of the LiftFan®, the STOVL variant has smaller internal weapon bay and less internal fuel capacity than the F-35A. It uses the probe and drogue method of aerial refueling.
The Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II STOVL At Trade Tuesday Farnborough Airshow 2016. First flying appearance at FIA after RIAT16.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole fighters undergoing final development and testing by the United States. The fifth generation combat aircraft is designed to perform ground attack and air defense missions. The F-35 has three main models: the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, the F-35B short take-off and vertical-landing (STOVL) variant, and the F-35C carrier-based Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) variant. On 31 July 2015, the first squadron was declared ready for deployment after intensive testing by the United States.
The F-35B is the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the aircraft. Similar in size to the A variant, the B sacrifices about a third of the A variant's fuel volume to accommodate the vertical flight system. Vertical takeoffs and landings are riskier because of threats such as foreign object damage. Whereas the F-35A is stressed to 9 g, the F-35B's stress goal is 7 g. As of 2014, the F-35B is limited to 4.5 g and 400 knots. The next software upgrade includes weapons, and allows 5.5 g and Mach 1.2, with a final target of 7 g and Mach 1.6. The first test flight of the F-35B was conducted on 11 June 2008. Another milestone, the first successful ski-jump launch was carried out by BAE test pilot Peter Wilson on 24 June 2015.
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F-35B Flight Demonstration - Farnborough Airshow 2016 #AIRBOYD #AvGeek #F35 #JSF

[@n0steeze]

5:15 It took me over an hour to find a video of it transitioning to forward flight from a hover. Why so few people bother to capture this baffles me. As if I care to watch an airplane go up and down, or better yet, an actual take off that's cut off before it transitions. Whoever filmed this is doing gods work.

[@meseretadenew3253]

Ong

[@thomasyunick3726]

This Video does not show a Vtol aircraft it shows a plane capable of Vtol manuevers once airbourne from short take off as the video title correctly states. This plane needs a runway and if your runway is bombed out this plane is grounded.....so sad !!!!! We need a true VTOL variant in service.

[@Nicalobocinator]

@@thomasyunick3726 it can (or could) take off vertically, but short takeoffs are preffered

[@thomasyunick3726]

@@Nicalobocinator I agree. A vtol take off has never happenend though ...even in development. you will never find the video because there is no video. it was never designed for vertical takeoff therefore.... it never will. Yet you get fan boys claim it does when.... it would never be allowed to risk a jet for this. as it may not have enough fuel left to make a landing. after a very short flight. IT would go up and return minutes later with vapor in the fuel tanks.

[@Nicalobocinator]

@@thomasyunick3726 uhm, literally just search up f35 vertical takeoff and there is literally a video BY lockheed martin, showing the f35 doing a vertical takeoff, when it was in development

[@bujoun76]

Thank you. For some reason every single video, of the "B", completely skips the transition from hover to forward flight. Thanks for recording it!!!

[@GamingAmbienceLive]

because russia and china are completely oblivious to the tech and we don't need them investigating the past, lazar was right, look up his latest interview few years ago, he is perfectly normal, and still sticks to what he saw

[@3204clivesinclair]

FrakU2 Good video of the hover to forward flight. Amazing how that door on top doesn’t get ripped off and can be closed against the airflow at such speed.

[@milosciric7655]

Clive Sinclair Why they didn't make it open other way ?

[@Karuiko]

Miloš Ćirić, It looks to be made as an air brake, and also doubles to redirect air into the fan.

[@777Outrigger]

Incredible fighter! And no crashes, and just one hull loss, on the ground, and no pilots deaths. The F-16 had 50 crashes in it's first 48 months of operation.

[@jemmatenenbaum6562]

I’m typically not one to advocate for big military spending, but this is incredible engineering. I would love to meet the programmers who wrote the code for this.

[@Ekim1740]

many of tech we have now are derived from military engineering.

[@Sk3tchPad]

It's usually mechanical engineers that figure out the "if the plane does X, the nozzles need to move to Y" stuff. It's ridiculously complex, considering that the pilot is asking for something, the wind is moving the plane around, and jet nozzles don't usually respond immediately to an input, so getting a system to work properly without "freaking out" (aka becoming dynamically unstable) is quite a challenge.

[@SnafuWT]

They copied this from the soviet yak-38 and that's 60's technology.

[@OhMars]

@Music, raw. Its not a personal computer you dumbfuck, stop hating and just enjoy the video

[@adriananzano2292]

@Music, raw. yes you are.

[@Ellexis]

It's one thing to be a fighter jet pilot, but it's another level of training to fly a VTOL. As a pilot, everything in your being is screaming at your when you slow to stall speed. Amazing engineering!

[@cherb23]

The pilot can let go of the side stick in a hover and the computer will keep it level like autopilot. Many high end helicopters also hover automatically just by pushing a button

[@Flight-bz4gn]

Nice video. The clouds in the background make it so much more easy to get a feel for the aircraft movement.

[@tonyhopkins4404]

Flight2000 z#

[@abdullahshak5062]

@@tonyhopkins4404 স় লৱ স ়ৱ,ط সলল়়়সসৃড

[@roderickcastillo6423]

thank you for sharing. this is what i want to see, a complete transition from vertical to forward flight.

[@hb1338]

At present, that transition takes more than four times longer than it did in the Harrier. I believe this is to prevent over-stressing the airframe, but the people who know aren't saying.

[@thomasyunick3726]

@@hb1338 The aircraft here performing this maneuver achieved flight using a conventional runway and take off.

[@Graeme758]

@@hb1338 That absurd hatch is probably the issue. This is just an ad hoc bunch of fixes to make the original bad design idea work. Expensive, overcomplicated, heavy. and as far as I can tell, would be out manoeuvred by a Harrier, even though it is faster. Would love to see this thing shit its pants when a Harrier VIFFed in front of it.

[@ArizonaAstraLLC]

​@@Graeme758"outmaneuvered" Hahaha. I have videos to show you otherwise

[@Graeme758]

@@ArizonaAstraLLC Link?

[@hughgrection4205]

Couldn't help thinking back to when I watched 6 Harriers hover at Farnborough in 1971. This is an aircraft for these times.

[@william_SMMA]

Vertical take off and landing has been around since 1971?? Jesus

[@drumking241]

Always a cool thing to see, have never seen the F-35b in person but as a kid i saw a Harrier do it as an Airshow and was amazed,

[@robertbrockway7301]

Great video, thanks. Great video of all the hatches closing at end.

[@SomeGuyInSandy]

Oh, now that is cool! Great camera work!

[@MamaEtna]

Very fascinating. Thank you for recording this. :)

[@noxnyc23]

I would have cried if I saw this in person.. wow America at its best ...

[@ilaser4064]

Don't mean to piss on your parade but that's a British F35 with a British pilot. :)

[@scinary7052]

@petnzme01 Don't mean to call your bullshit but there's this thing called, research. Now I get you aren't too bright so I'll make it simple but, things get better over time when smart people work on them. And a lot of smart people are working on this technology. You understand?

[@sonic344ify]

@petnzme01 It can take off vertically you idiot.

[@scinary7052]

@petnzme01 those smart people are on the cutting edge of technology. And yes it can fly properly we've seen it do so

[@delta-bird-thing-donkeysir506]

You realize it wasn't just America who built the jet...

[@alangale5666]

That is one very impressive aircraft.

[@whizyt7207]

Great footage

[@jacksavage197]

Just found this. Really nice. Wish much success to the program.

[@smajl2]

Nice! Hope to see one in near future in our airshow... Still remember how Harrier bowed in front of the crowd...

[@J.M.Sharpie]

Imagine a jet flying at almost Mach 2 then slowing down to a hover just to show off

[@swunt10]

the german VJ 101 did exactly that 57 years ago as well. nothing new under the sun.

[@swunt10]

@Mac’s Jack! thank you for reading wikipedia. I hope you learned something. btw being an arsehole about a test aircraft crashing (even though every other type of aircraft crashed at least once as well) makes you sound bitter.

[@howardman3926]

F35 can't do Mach 2 sadly

[@PandaXs1]

@@howardman3926 and the harrier can't do mach 1, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@speedbird1668]

“what did you say?”

[@matthewb9241]

Simply amazing.

[@meseretadenew3253]

Thanks I was craving for the transition of takeoff and flying of this marvelous engineering piece 👏

[@leadhead582]

This thing is really amazing, and truly something most people would never imagine happening

[@raysmith649]

This is so insane I love it

[@calebjohnson8718]

Just now leaving the 2023 Gowen Thunderbird Air Show in Boise Idaho and had the AMAZING privilege to watch this incredible machine in the air. I just watched in stunned silence. Seems unreal to watch this thing hover in person and it is SOOO loud! Nothing says America is at your door and they're pissed like the F35🔥😂

[@luisantoniomarrega3713]

Super fantástico!

[@raynic1173]

I got to see a Military brass demo of the Harrier back in '79. OMG it was amazing.

[@rundome8233]

Finally someone recorded the transitions

[@homewerk3355]

Awesome 👏

[@zakspop]

Those hinges on the top flap must be hella strong.

[@btiller44]

That's what I thought too! Imagine how much pressure must be against that lid as it moves fast enough for the jet to fly forward... probably at least 100 knots. And then it's able to close itself too!

[@Pronoxse]

Imagine the forces pushing on that upper vertical engine hatch at times

[@dandork20]

I'd guess they are so strong it contributes to lift.

[@Graeme758]

I know, it is an absurd answer to an absurd design flaw.

[@kingofaesthetics9407]

​​@@Graeme758The LiftFan isn't a design flaw, it's the reason why the F-35B can go supersonic unlike the British Harrier.

[@n3v3rforgott3n9]

@@Graeme758 You thinking it is a design flaw just shows that you should leave it to the engineers...

[@fanofspica]

5:24 that's awesome, first ever seen the landing gear folding

[@cioaeuirtert]

Amazing!

[@soham9238]

Great performance !

[@phil.l.1327]

This is just the start of the F-35's. Lockheed Martin even said that this jet still has room for improvements and advancements.

[@hb1338]

There are still (literally) hundreds of problems on the snag list. Getting the aircraft to its design capability and making it available for service more than one day per fortnight is the first major goal. After that, there is a certain amount of room for increasing its performance, but doing so shortens the life of both the airframe and the engine, so it will need very careful planning and evaluation.

[@mustang8258]

Best plane on the planet. What an incredible machine.

[@gianniformica8235]

@@mustang8258 F22?

[@mustang8258]

@@gianniformica8235 What? No, that's an F-35... Literally says it in the title 🤦🏻😂

[@dariopasquini2203]

That lone guy clapping at 5:45 lol.

[@sacrificialobama8786]

That's some damn good camerawork lol

[@ronlee7261]

I am amazed by this technology. I was up Hancock creek (creek on the esturarys of NC ) fishing and An AV. 8 B came and hovered right over the spot I was fishing .He stayed in one place for about 30 minutes. ALOT of noise come from those harriers it was something to see. About 25 miles East of New Bern N..C Havelock , cherry point ,marine air base. always hearing some type military training when you fish up those creeks. There's a sign outside that base that says" pardon our noise it's the SOUND of freedom." The future cherry point marine air STATION will be a major repair station for the F 35

[@GoldenAura32]

Sometimes I miss that place, was an avionics repairman for the Harrier.

[@AA-xo9uw]

"He stayed in one place for about 30 minutes." Not in a hover it didn't.

[@PandemicGameplay]

Actually amazing times we live in

[@Jeff-ej4wp]

Yes it is. chinese can actually make ball point pens now.

[@FantaZ4U]

Be aware there are some silly trolls claiming the F-35B cannot transition to forward flight from a hover and will argue till hell freezes over about it, This Video proves them completely wrong and they will not watch it. I just posted it again in a thread they were trashing to absurd levels and just being brats for the sake of attention. I bet now they will claim since they didn't see a transition from the ground, they won't accept this video as proof. But all can see a transition form a total hover and see how desperate these trolls are to invent false issues. All they want to do is get attention and make up BS to disrupt the F-35 program. Another is claiming all are canceling orders when most have increased orders after their first aircraft are delivered. So don't pay attention to them since they will all gang up on you and start a pretzel logic argument demanding facts challenging the things they make up and refuse to support. The have a few that all work together and then claim they are the more knowledgeable and are all in advanced positions. They are just drama baiters bluffing for attention. Thanks Airboyd for this post

[@juliewhite7066]

there not trolls there idiots. don

[@Pyramid1974]

yup true.. also true that I haven't seen any vid anywhere of vertical take off into forward flight.. I did read somewhere that its only capable of doing that while "empty".. I used to be one of those hating on the f35.. but in the last year im suddenly seeing clips on here of it doing things that i didn't ever see that it could before.. It actually flies a lot like the f16 in the shows now... it did NOT do shit like that in prior years all it did was fly around liked a cesna which is probably why all the smack talk about it... And the more I see high quality of it up close the more it straight grows on me.. its like a fkn shark...

[@ilaser4064]

@Julie, not just idiots or trolls, they're Russian idiot trolls :P

[@knightlife98]

No doubt! I ran into a few of them, a couple of days ago...! Lol......

[@knightlife98]

@petnzme01 Oh, but it can. When you get the chance, do some research on why it is more beneficial to the aircraft, to take off horizontally.

[@Speedbird7771]

I still miss the Harrier “Bow” to the audience.

[@alwaysflying6540]

I've seen the harrier in person and it could transition faster from hover to forward flight with a more powerful climb out angle

[@myon-]

@@alwaysflying6540 but the harrier is slow and outdated, transition speed doesnt matter as long ad the combat capabilities are better (which the f-35 is)

[@williamjordan5554]

@Irish Viking in 2020, the Harrier is the POS. F-35 is the only stealth fighter for sale.

[@davidwillard7334]

Yes ! You do wonder ! Did the HARRIER ! HAVE A MORE !! SEXY !! LOOK !! IT !?? Because of its DELTA ! WING !! SHAPE DESIGN !!?? THE HARRIER ! LOOKED ! MORE ! LIKE ! A FLYING ! DART !! The HARRIER !! WOULD NEED !! MODIFICATIONS !! TO GET !! TO EQUAL THE F 35 !! I BELIEVE IT COULD BE DONE !!! BUT !! DO BRITISH TAXPAYERS !! WANT TO PAY !! FOR THIS !!!??? ( IF THE QUEEN !! AND COUNTRY'S !!! UNDERTHREAT !!??? ) MARTIAN !! ATTACK !?? MAYBE !!! BUT YEAH !! AMERICA !! WANTING TO BEAT !! BRITAIN !! ONCE AGAIN !! NOT !! SO !! WITH !! CONCORDE !!! IM SURE ! THE F 35 WILL DO WELL ON BRITISH AIRCRAFT CARRIERS !! LOYAL TO THE TREATY !! ( FORGOT THE WORD " ABOUT " IT !!?? ) O.K THEN

[@yomama629]

@Irish Viking the Harrier had a much less sophisticated STOVL system, idk what you're talking about. Every time it landed it ran the risk of flipping over and killing the pilot, the F-35 doesn't have that problem

[@alexanderlaryea6265]

This is amazing! The F-35 B is the fighter jet of the future. Hoorah, semper-fi.

[@tyapka]

Amazing

[@hupgthupgt-tb7cs]

The only thing that MIGHT could take one of these babies out: Bruce Willis.

[@odemu2074]

You mean Jason Statham

[@hupgthupgt-tb7cs]

@@odemu2074 well Bruce Willis did it in Die Hard.

[@rutzzella]

very very good filming 👌

[@kevinconners2283]

So freaking cool. Thanks for sharing!

[@miguelcrtz]

awesome

[@phlexwoo3122]

People complained about the price of a F15 when it was made, too.

[@myusername3689]

karens will be karens

[@adriannalundasan7570]

Do I need to have a university degree to fly one of those things?

[@kennyhollidayjr5206]

That's just sick!! 💪

[@a1ex_405]

I was there and my ears were ringing for about 10 minutes after it landed🤣 Honestly louder than the vulcan

[@IsThisNuts]

What is the max altitude to hover? Can it just hover without the landing gear so it can deliver payload?

[@jenynce]

I looked for this feature in so many video . Every video of f35b with vertical take of and vertical landing seems to be of either short take off and vertical landing or it would be of from landing it thrust up in air vertically but then stays there for a bit then lands straight down . Not one video shows thrust up vertical and when in mid air move forward and fly like true vertical take off and fly . So after watching tons of videos and being disappointed finally I’ve seen what I was looking for so thank you very much uploader

[@B201SGT]

Can it launches missiles when it is hovering?

[@richardhoward3462]

How the hell does that door (on top) not get torn off?

[@youdoitillwatch]

Ever stick your arm out of the widow of a moving car? Notice how it didn't get torn off? Same principle.

[@cavaleer]

He's not being an ass. It's the same principal. The top hatch is deeply attached to the airframe. But there are speed limitations for it to open.

[@jaredbrooks7219]

Have you ever watched stock car racing and seen them spin out of control and noticed the flaps on the roof raising up to use wind resistance to slow their momentum? Same principle just much more advanced.

[@theatom7264]

Very strong hydraulics & hinges. Also like others have said speed limits are set to prevent it from getting ripped off the aircraft.

[@klausmuhlbach1869]

Also, there is no air pushing against it, since all the air gets sucked into the lift fan before reaching that door.

[@theman8447]

What if there's turbulence? Will it able to stabilize?

[@scarpien]

I'm amazed that 'hatch' behind the cockpit isn't blown off during flight. Doesn't it being in the up position create drag?

[@kenny344]

It's up to hover, when drag isn't really a factor. It's down flat in forward flight

[@scarpien]

@@kenny344 Cool.

[@bramakumbara1185]

I always tought the top cover for the vtol fan would fly off when transitioning to forward flight. Turns out it's completely fine.

[@danielbutcher5836]

Mystifying! Thanks for sharing. Anyone know if any Harriers are still in service?

[@lolbro588]

Yes! Unfortunately they will be retired in 2029.

[@BxBxProductions]

Fuckin UFO. When I first saw this plane hovering in an air show I thought i was dreaming. The exhaust rotation is the sexy part. Saw the standalone exhaust being displayed and it was an amazing sight

[@JaySmithKiawah]

Thanks from an older guy to the Brits for paving the way with the subsonic Harrier. Also very impressive in its day.

[@mikiangel1810]

Cool

[@pablo17667140]

The legend is true

[@kazaa007]

does ay one know the fuell consumption ?

[@Herb___]

Damn. That was impressive.

[@katiazayats977]

👍👍👍♥️♥️♥️👌👌👌 fantastic jet !!!

[@Callsign_Prophet]

Imagine a fighter plane hovering past your window and lighting you up... damn US you scary

[@Some_Random_Asshole]

Azriel this is Britain.

[@J.M.Sharpie]

Highway speed enforced by F-35B lightning VTOL Aircraft

[@J.M.Sharpie]

Some_Random_Asshole 783567 it’s an American made fighter jet though

[@Callsign_Prophet]

@@Some_Random_Asshole it's a US designed aircraft...

[@jacobblair6181]

@@Some_Random_Asshole but its american made lol

[@willymw78]

China can never copy this marvel of American engineering

[@gizmofrek]

that 747pilot is the Real MVP.

[@unholyprognosis4052]

How does it stabilize when the exhaust is way in the back?

[@EM-lk7jw]

Another forward thrust engine and overall "Thrust Vectoring"

[@EuropeMilitaryDefense]

make video f-35 vs su-57

[@Jdinrbfidndifofkdndjoflfndjdk]

can someone tell the pilot that they have the hood open?

[@leojames7331]

Can anyone explain the purpose behind the hover ability? Jets can take off and land easily on carriers, so what's the practical benefit of being able to hover?

[@SynchronizorVideos]

The B model is meant for operation from smaller carrier craft, such as those operated by the USMC and the Royal Navy. The F-35C is a conventional take-off & landing variant designed for operation from full-sized U.S. Navy supercarriers.

[@LeonAust]

Due to its limited internal weapons bay dimensions, compared to the Airforce and Navy versions, they should design a stealth external weapons carriage pod to be fitted on either the inner and mid wing pylons of each wing. Another thing needed is stealth external fuel pylons and tanks for the inner two external wing pylons on each wing.

[@mazda3mike]

Everyone remember all those people who said they had seen 3 lights go from flying to hovering to flying off around the desert. Here is probably your answer.

[@myblo9784]

When in hover mode can it still use the weapon?

[@ThisIsMyRealName]

my blo 9 - yes

[@AldenDoble]

What a truly remarkable piece of engineering

[@jordanaldrich]

wow, that plane is really amazing!!

[@clintwilmot823]

Impressive machine!

[@Jeff-ej4wp]

These will look so cool when they land in Bejing.

[@jemarcatubig3171]

can it do that loaded tho

[@flaviobriggs]

Petition to change it from "touch and go" to "drop and hop"

[@terryrack2534]

I know this thing is crazy expensive. but if I recall so was the b52.

[@jonathanjuwainat5535]

That’s the price of good aircraft

[@Kyrelel]

so was my ex-wife

[@bison5716]

Snooby66 damn cold

[@ivanvoronov3871]

@@jonathanjuwainat5535 it's too good and unsesary . It's the equivalent of a tiger in ww2. Effective but from a logistical standpoint a bad idea

[@jonathanjuwainat5535]

Ivan Voronov You clearly have no idea what you’re talking about

[@FilCanJay]

Amazing. I wonder how fuel efficient it is to remain hovering like that and then return to forward flight. Forward flight vs. hovering, which is more efficient.

[@TonyChan-eh3nz]

Forward flight is much much more efficient

[@Callsign_Prophet]

This thing belongs in space

[@fancymelon5127]

petnzme01 Guns are irrelevant when the enemy is dead before visual range

[@williambright9810]

@petnzme01 the f-35 can definetly dogfight , no doubt In my mind . Recent progress in the program has shown it can beat 4th gen fighters when originally it couldn't. As time goes on bugs get worked out and strategy is created . The pilot has amazing awareness in this plane , to say a stealth fighter armed with air to air missiles and a 180 round cannon can't dogfight is a bit of a reach 😂 not to mention it's not so bad at maneuvering as first thought. Shit we don't even know it's top speed , they say mach 2+ so there you go

[@scinary7052]

@petnzme01 Are you slow or something? Fuck mate the first rockets exploded guess all rocket science should go in the bin right? Guns didn't work right at first and weren't accurate. Lost cause get rid of em, they could never get better.

[@jonathanjuwainat5535]

petnzme01 how are you suddenly an expert in aviation this piece of shit or whatever you call it is much better than any piece of shit the BRITs or the Russians could ever do

[@Orion-gw7kg]

petnzme01 You are a fucking moron. Plain and simple.

[@funnyman1ization]

Hover to forward flight, Ha! Get some!!!!!

[@IronMatt6288]

The F35 is very impressive but at the same time would assume since the Harrier can also takeoff and land vertically the Harriers replacment would be able to accomplish something that the Harrier can't do like fire weapons while hovering but still impressive.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

Why would you want to fire weapons while hovering? That would just give the enemy an easy target. The F-35 brings stealth and advanced sensors & electronics that are huge leaps forward from the old Harriers. They're also much faster and more powerful (higher thrust-to-weight).

[@maa4747]

Oh Now He's just showing off

[@Ahtnagarp]

man that's insane, i think aliens will be surprised too seeing this human technology

[@op3l]

I wonder how much weight that crazy contraption adds.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

It adds a few thousand pounds to the empty weight compared to the conventional F-35A, but the A model uses that space for extra fuel, so if you compare them fully-fueled there's not that much difference.

[@kenjihayashi668]

some call it junk.i leave whether it is or isn't to the pilots who fly it.from my point of view damn impressive.

[@aaroncabatingan5238]

The pilots who flew the F35 actually loved it. You just won't hear that from sensationalist journalist who gets their information from Pierre Sprey(thankfully he's dead now) and RT.

[@NeedToBike]

shame they dont do air shows in farnborough

[@MA-kt8ly]

Sorcery !!!

[@robertthomas7769]

An impressive machine!

[@g_pazzini]

the upper engine door must be very strong

[@thomassmith7432]

Wow

[@HatWearingDog]

No hate, genuine curiosity: I see the advantages of V-TOL fighters that don’t need airstrips to takeoff/land. But I don’t see how a hovering fighter could be useful in real combat. Is the military planning on using these as gunships against ground forces? Even in that case, wouldn’t helicopters do a better job?

[@Noorthia]

No, the hovering is only for takeoff and landing where the airfield may be bombed to shit.

[@thongdinhngo8337]

Only for taking off and landing in limited space, like fight like a fighter plane but be able to land on a helipad

[@maverick4191]

Can the F35 hover like that with the landing gears retracted? I think it would look real bad ass with the landing gears hidden while its hovers like that.

[@kevinh3979]

It probably can unless there is some sort of mechanical interference or safety interlock. Probably unwise to do so however.

[@gizmofrek]

It cant. its a safety feature. it always open its landing gear before the back/top turbine door opens. I think it also add stability. like balancing on a rope with a stick. you know what i mean.... not unless your Tony Stark.... xD

[@chownful]

what if he ejects during hover mode? will the intakes suck him in, or is the ejection seat propulsion strong enough to get him safely out of there?

[@PopExpo]

That's actually incredible

[@user-yv7is1cc6e]

비행 착륙 다시 이륙. 비행 완벽한 전투기

[@TheMotorick]

3:00 Engine don't fail me now!!!

[@funnyman1ization]

ANDDD...... the Harriers engines can't fail?

[@wajtek4660]

BF4 theme intensifies